I'm a fan of this author's previous works so was delighted to receive a copy of The Other Me - and it was more of treat than expected, a little different to what you might think looking at the tagline and a very emotional and moving read about coming to terms with family history.

When we meet Klaudia, she is a teenager who is ashamed of her parents. Nothing new there you might say, but her family has a history and background that is somewhat different. Later she reinvents herself as Eliza in an attempt to leave it all behind, but the past has a way of staying with you and Eliza must face it head on if she is to be truly happy.

This was really beautifully written, the different viewpoints serving to elicit a really emotional response to the story - I found the portions where we follow Ernst through some of the war to be particularly gripping. I'm keen not to give too much away here, this is a story that highlights how the past can be hidden within myth and assumptions made that are at odds with the truth. What Saskia Sarginson has managed to do is show that up, Eliza's outlook on her family is very skewed, coloured by what she thinks she knows and by others reactions to her.

The story unfolds at a perfect pace allowing you to sink into the lives of the characters, there is much to debate in your head as you go and this is one of those books that will stay with you long after finishing it. Really terrific stuff.

As I said,I'd rather keep this brief enough that you can discover the story for yourself. Definitely recommended and I can't wait to see what the author brings us next. I shall be one of the first in line.

Happy Reading Folks!

Klappentext
Eine bewegende und fesselnde Reise zu den dunklen Geheimnissen einer Kindheit, die aus einem unzertrennlichen Ganzen zwei Schwestern machte, die einander wie Fremde erscheinen. Ein flirrender Sommer an Englands Ostküste. Die Zwillingsschwestern Viola und Isolte sind durch duftende Kiefernwälder gestreift, haben auf nebelüberfluteten Lichtungen längst vergessene Sagengestalten beschworen und den scharfen, salzigen Wind des Meeres geatmet. Doch nun, fünfzehn Jahre später, scheinen die beiden nichts mehr gemein zu haben. Während Isolte sich mit verzweifelter Lebensfreude der Welt entgegenwirft, hungert Viola sich in den sicheren Tod. Während eine der Schwestern sich verbissen an ihre Ziele und Pläne klammert, wünscht die andere nichts sehnlicher, als sich aufzulösen und ihrer Vergangenheit zu entkommen. Welcher unaussprechliche Schrecken ist geschehen in jenem Sommer, als alles möglich schien und der das Erwachsenwerden zweier Zwillingsschwestern so unerbittlich bestimmt?

Meine Meinung

Die Story
Die Handlung des Buches ist wirklich tragisch und immer wieder brandaktuell. Zwei Zwillingsschwestern, die sich so nahe standen und die sich durch ein schreckliches Ereignis auseinander gelebt und in zwei völlig unterschiedliche Richtungen entwickelt haben. Isolte ist er die ruhigere und bodenständigere. Sie hat einen Freund einen Job (den sie gerade verloren hat) eben ein relativ normales Leben. Viola hingegen hungert sich zu tode. Sie liegt im Krankenhaus und muss zwangsernährt werden. Man erfährt von dem Leben der Zwillinge mit ihrer Mutter, die zuerst in einer Kommune groß geworden sind und später dann als Eigenversorger in einem Haus im Wald gelebt haben. Die Mutter ist so der typische Hippie der 70er Jahre und dem Alkohol verfallen.Vom Vater fehlt jede Spur. In dem Buch wird ziemlich häufig in den Zeiten hin und her gesprungen. Mal in der Vergangenheit, mal in der Gegenwart, und dazu noch im Wechsel aus der unterschiedlichen Perspektive der beiden Zwillinge. Es gibt aber nie eine Zeitangabe über den Kapiteln, so das man immer mal erst ein bisschen lesen muss, um überhaupt zu wissen, wo man den gerade ist und von wem den jetzt die Rede ist. Das hat mir nicht wirklich gefallen. Ich fand es sehr verwirrend und hat die Handlung sehr beeinträchtigt. Die Gefühle der Mädchen/Frauen kamen deshalb, meiner Meinung nach, auch etwas zu kurz. Denn wenn man nicht so wirklich in ein Buch hinein gefunden hat, können einen die Charaktere und deren Schicksale auch nicht so wirklich berühren.

Der Schreibstil
Wie oben schon erwähnt, fand ich den Schreibstil ziemlich verwirrend. Es liest sich nicht so richtig flüssig, wie ich es gerne mag und das viele hin und her zwischen den Zeiten, ohne jegliche Information, wo und von wem es gerade handelt, hat mir die Freude am lesen genommen.

Die Charaktere
Beide Protagonistinnen konnten mich nicht so wirklich berühren, da ich von den ersten Seiten des Buches nicht wirklich mit dem Schreibstil zurecht gekommen bin. Ich weiß das viele das Buch total toll gefunden haben. Bei mir ist es leider nicht so gut angekommen. Was ich sehr schade finde, dennn da Potenzial war vorhanden.

Mein Fazit

Ein Buch mit viel Potenzial, aber einem sehr verwirrenden Schreibstil und zuhäufigen Zeitsprüngen.
Deshalb kann ich nur zwei von fünf Sternen vergeben.

Publication Date: 17th July 2014 from Little Brown/Piatkus

 

Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy via netgalley.

 

1984 – Suffolk, England.
When 17-year-old Eva goes missing at sea, everyone presumes that she drowned. Her parents’ relationship is falling apart, undermined by guilt and grief. But her younger sister, Faith, refuses to consider a life without Eva; she’s determined to find her sister and bring her home alive.
Close to the shore looms the shape of an island — out of bounds, mysterious, and dotted with windowless concrete huts. What nobody knows is that inside one of the huts Eva is being held captive. That she is fighting to survive — and return home..

 

I read Saskia Sarginson’s debut novel “The Twins” and absolutely adored it so I was looking forward to the latest one with glee and gosh, it was very good indeed, I barely put it down start to finish.

 

Eva is missing, presumed drowned. Whilst her parents make desperate attempts to cope with their horrific loss, younger sister Faith is absolutely determined that Eva is alive and on an island, a haunting and seemingly deserted ex government property, just across the water. What nobody realises is that Faith is right…

 

This was basically another great family drama from Ms Sarginson – with a sibling relationship at the heart of it, multi stranded as we hear from various people at various times, it was a terrifically clever spiders web of a tale, connecting each part of the story to the next. Also using past and present to give an understanding of how things were at the time of the accident, the interconnecting lives of all the people concerned are intricately and delicately shown.

 

There is great heart and style to the writing here that keeps you deeply involved with every action, motivation and emotion of the characters as they traverse the waters of some difficult times. Add to that an evocative sense of place, Suffolk comes alive within the pages and puts you firmly in the centre of the action. Exploring themes of love, loss and the meaning of family, I found this extremely addictive reading with some genuinely memorable characters.

 

Overall a most terrific read and comes highly recommended from me.

 

Happy Reading Folks!

The Twins by Saskia Sarginson reminded me why I switched from reading adult to YA literature. I don't have time in my day to be bored to tears.

 

Let's talk about something more interesting:

 

Today was an exciting day. We finally got the keys to our new apartment. Our very own apartment. This is my first time buying a property and I'm so excited. My eyes are alight with the interior design possibilities.

 

I am banning the TV from the living room! *gasp* instead I am filling the room with bookshelves. Now, don't get me wrong - I have nothing against television. I quite like television. However, I pretty much exclusively watch reality TV. I hate dramas, I despise plays, I loathe soap operas. They're just so fucking contrived. You know what really gets me? The lighting. Nobody's life is lit like that!! It removes any ounce of believability from these TV programmes, and makes it impossible for me to connect with any of the characters.

 

Throughout reading The Twins all I could imagine was the settings lit like these goddamn TV shows - You know what I mean? That spotlight on the face for a tense moment; soft, yellow lighting from below for an emotional scene. And don't anybody bring fucking candles into the equation - a single candle does not light up an entire room people!! The whole story felt clunky, forced and fake just like those shitty TV dramas that grate on me so painfully. The dialog was awkward and stilted. I imagined the characters glancing at each other uncomfortably as they spoke, and then clumsily bumping hips and elbow as they struggled to exit stage right. Urgh.

Free spirited Rose brings up her identical twin girls Isolte and Viola in the countryside of Suffolk – Allowed to run wild, they have a quiet but wonderful life. Fast forward and Viola is struggling with an eating disorder, often hospitalised whilst Isolte has a seemingly good life working in the magazine industry. Just what is it that has set the Twins on two surely separate paths….Oh what to say about this story…if I were to use one word “haunting” might perhaps be appropriate. Beautifully written certainly – with two wonderful and connected characters at its heart it is immediately absorbing and utterly compelling. These two girls, connected so closely by blood and yet torn apart by life events, will surely touch your heart.Written at various times from the point of view of both Isolte and Viola, we hear their separate versions of incidents of their childhoods, events beyond those years and how they view each other and those around them. Utterly fascinating on every level you both will and will not want to finish their story – I was bereft at the thought of leaving them behind and yet impatient to find out how it all turns out for them.The relationship between the Twins is of course the mainstay of the tale and yet Saskia Sarginson has managed to immerse us into the world of those characters who interact with them – John and Michael particularly – with just as much appeal. When the story is done you will look back on it fondly.All in all a terrific read – one that had me turning the pages until late into the night once more and also one that left me with a tear in my eye…Superb.A little note: Anyone that follows me knows I’ve always got my eye out for great cover art and this one is eye catching and rather beautiful. I am pleased to have it on my shelf.Happy Reading Folks!